Old news. Bad news. Fake news. Sometimes you want to shut down and get no news at all! I aim to change that by focusing on good people doing good works. I visit with artists, educators, civic & spiritual leaders, musicians, business owners, students, volunteers, and everyday citizens who are using their creativity, resources, and talents to bring hope, happiness, and goodness to their corner of the world.
Episodes
Feb 3, 2025
Feb 3, 2025
1 hr 45 min
Ep. 133 - The Wonder Years - Ft. Allyson Blackwell Montgomery, Children's Museum of SWLA - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
I often think fondly on my childhood when my young mind relished in the thrill of discovery—the joy of stumbling upon something new through play, and the quiet spark of curiosity that grew into awe and wonder. These special moments, where learning and imagination meet, have been the foundation upon which many of my lifelong passions took root and flourished, and it is a comfort to know that there is place that is working passionately to provide the impetus for future generations to have that same creative platform.
In this episode of Find the Good News, I had the privilege of speaking with Allyson Blackwell Montgomery, the Executive Director of the Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana. Allyson holds a deep and inspiring conviction: that through learning, we grow, and in growth, we find the power to change the world. Her work with the Children's Museum is driven by the belief that every curious question, every shared discovery, and every child given the space to dream brings us closer to a better, brighter future.
Her passion is woven into the museum’s next great chapter—their soon-to-open home at Port Wonder, a state-of-the-art facility located on the lakefront in Downtown Lake Charles, Louisiana. Port Wonder will be more than a destination; it will be a sanctuary of exploration, connection, and hands-on learning for children and adults alike.
The Children's Museum's of Southwest Louisiana invites children and families to step into a world where hands-on learning is expansive and exciting. Sharing space with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature and Science Center, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the intersection of education, environment, and play.
As Allyson and I spoke, it became clear that this vision for the Children's Museum and Port Wonder is deeply personal. For her, it’s about more than just exhibits and programs—it’s about creating a place where the seeds of curiosity can take root, where learning becomes a lifelong adventure, and where families can reconnect with each other and the magic of discovery.
So, I invite you to sit with me in this heartfelt conversation with Allyson Blackwell Montgomery and explore the inspiring mission of the Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana, its incredible new home at Port Wonder, and the transformative belief that when we nurture curiosity and promote lifelong learning, we grow—and through growth, we literally change the world for the better.
Now, let’s queue the music and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about the Children's Museum of SWLA » https://www.swlakids.org
Follow the Children's Museum on Social Media » https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensMuseumSWLA
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Oct 21, 2024
Oct 21, 2024
1 hr 23 sec
Ep. 132 - The Connected Community - Ft. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary "Stitch" Guillory - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Have you ever witnessed or been involved in an incident that required you to call the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office? While experiences and opinions may vary—depending on which side of the law one finds themselves on—as a citizen who has had occasion to make the call, my personal impression has been highly positive. In nearly every circumstance, I've been left with a sense of gratitude for CPSO's responsiveness, professionalism, and understanding.
While it's undeniable that there is immense value in having a firm enforcement arm to deter criminal activity and ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens, it's equally clear that there is a long-term benefit to serving the population through community education and public service programs.
In this episode of Find the Good News, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary "Stitch" Guillory took the time to visit with me and share his insights on what makes Calcasieu Parish a unique thread in the fabric of Louisiana communities, and how it continues to progress and thrive within the larger quilt of the United States as a whole.
With over four decades of public service and law enforcement experience, Sheriff Guillory has stepped into his elected role with the kind of respect and integrity that are critical for a leader bound to face challenges, ranging from daily criminal activity to white-collar crime, online financial scams, predators, abuse, and natural disasters. From drug trafficking and violence to petty crime, Sheriff Guillory is transparent—the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office faces the same hurdles as law enforcement agencies across our nation. Yet, he sees something uniquely hopeful in Calcasieu: a trend toward betterment, togetherness, resilience, empathy, and community, even as these bonds seem to erode in other parts of our nation.
Sheriff Guillory and his team at CPSO are clearly motivated to be a positive and highly visible presence throughout Calcasieu Parish, not only through law enforcement, but by serving the people—from the elderly to the young—through volunteer work and education programs.
So, I invite you to consider your role as a citizen in your community, how you can be a helper and be of service. And when you see the new green and gold cruisers and uniforms of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, know that the individual inside is there to serve as well.
Now, let's queue the music, and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office » https://www.cpso.com
Follow the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office on Social Media » https://www.facebook.com/CalcasieuSheriff
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Oct 7, 2024
Oct 7, 2024
1 hr 10 min
Ep. 131 - The Road Out Back - Ft. Anne Klenke, Creole Nature Trail All-American Road in Southwest Louisiana - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
For me, one of the most enjoyable things in life is a good-old-fashioned road trip that takes the side roads, hits the small stops, and offers the possibility of discovery, with textures outside of the mostly manufactured experiences found along the main travel arteries, saturated with common denominator brands and tourist traps. There’s something truly special about the untailored travel experience, with its rough, fuzzy edges and unknown factors. That type of travel pushes me to keep my eyes and ears open, cultivating the type of mindful attention that can be diminished by bloated itineraries and over-hyped hot spots.
The open, wild road is like listening to the radio instead of a curated playlist—along the winding miles comes a little static and overlapping signals, as well as that joyful feeling when your favorite song comes through. These trails open us up to the priceless mystery of random, unplanned occurrences. I’m one of the lucky ones because I live along Highway 27 South in Southwest Louisiana, where we have a road trip into the wild green heart of Louisiana’s Outback—the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road—right here in our own backyard.
In this episode of Find the Good News, I visited with my friend Anne Klenke, Vice President of Destination Development with Visit Lake Charles. Anne works with heart and passion to share our growing, green Gulf Coast gateway with visitors from across the country and around the world.
Whether it’s the painted scattered skies, the kaleidoscopic presentation of seasonal birds, our unique catalogue of wetland creatures, or the expansive Gulf Coast views, Anne has seen firsthand the memorable discoveries that writers and visitors make as they explore the far-and-away spaces along the Creole Nature Trail, starting at the trailhead, Adventure Point in Sulphur, Louisiana.
Over the past 15 years, Anne and I have worked together on countless projects that promote travel to the area and inform travelers as they make their way through. As rewarding as those projects have been, this conversation revealed just how deeply Anne’s heart is entwined with this space and place, giving me a new appreciation of the Outback right here at home.
So, I invite you to consider packing for a day trip to Southwest Louisiana—and when you get here, head south on Highway 27 and watch the manufactured world peel away as you wind along into the Louisiana wild.
Now, let's queue the music, and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about Creole Nature Trail & Adventure Point » https://www.visitlakecharles.org/creole-nature-trail/
Follow Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point on Social Media » https://www.facebook.com/CNTAdventurePoint
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Sep 23, 2024
Sep 23, 2024
2 hr 6 min
Ep. 130 - The Reason Is Love - Ft. Tonya Doucette of Project Trey–Recovery Café in Lake Charles, Louisiana - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
I have always been in awe of those with the gift of human empathy, who seem to sense when someone else is hurting or in need. I've been blessed many times to be the giver of aid when I sensed the suffering of others, often hiding my pains and sufferings from the world at large, preferring to try to unravel those entanglements on my own. I have realized that events and circumstances will take you by surprise, and no amount of preparation and redundancies will suffice if you try to navigate the troubles alone.
An empathetic friend and client recently picked up on a personal pain weighing heavily on my heart and mind. In that moment of insight and kindness, she used her gift to point me toward a local who has traveled the roads I now found myself on, experiencing the most significant grief a parent could know, transmuting that sorrow into the right action and resources for others, like me and mine, who now find ourselves somewhat wandering along the myriads paths of addiction and substance abuse.
In this episode of Find the Good News, I visited with Tonya Doucette, Founder of Project Trey–Recovery Café in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she works to honor and remember her son Trey by providing a safe space for those in addiction recovery to gather, learn, grow, and be loved as they begin the hard work of one-day-at-a-time living.
This encounter with Tonya could not have come at a more critical time when being present and supportive of a loved one requires wrangling fears, anxieties, legalities, and social stigma. Sitting with Tonya at Project Trey–Recovery Café offered comfort and motivation to travel the road ahead in strength because I could see clearly that she had traveled this road before us, for us.
I often ask my guests, "Why do something instead of nothing?" I know why Tonya does what she does and has devoted her mind, time, and heart to helping those in recovery find their way forward—she does it because of love.
Some time has passed since Tonya and I had this conversation, and in that time, I have seen the results of her love firsthand as she helps our family journey through the concentric rings surrounding an addiction event. I am on the frontline of a healing event, and as I watch the wounds mend and scar over, I feel gratitude for Tonya and her son Trey.
So, I invite you to sit with Tonya Doucette and me at Project Trey–Recovery Café in Lake Charles, Louisiana. If you're in recovery, I encourage you to continue to find your reason one day at a time. If it gets hard—when it gets hard—there's a space full of loving people waiting for you at Project Trey.
Now, let's queue the music and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about Project Trey–Recovery Café » www.ProjectTreyRecoveryCafe.org
Follow Project Trey on Social Media » https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095377565791
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Sep 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024
1 hr 43 min
Ep. 129 - The Dormon Legacy - Ft. Bayli Brossette of Briarwood Nature Preserve in Saline, Louisiana - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
One evening, several decades ago, I and my dear friends took a camping trip to North Louisiana. That evening, as we were lost in the dense display of stars dusting the sky, the group was suddenly jolted by the sound of a vehicle backfiring as it rumbled along Highway 117. Someone wondered aloud, "I'd be curious if there were any place left in Louisiana where you can truly escape the sound of a combustion engine." The comment brought silence to our group and was impactful enough that it still emerged in my thoughts as I entered the youth of my old age.
In this episode of Find the Good News, I once again traveled through North Louisiana's piney woods and hills, not to camp with friends but to visit with Bayli Brossette, the Curator of Briarwood Nature Preserve. Ahead of my trip, Bayli advised that I fuel up as the nearest resources were over 45 miles away. While this was sound advice, I couldn't help but wonder again, how far do you need to go to escape the sound of engines? Soon I would discover that such a place exists in Louisiana and is connected to the Kisatchie National Forest campsite, where my friend posed the original query.
Upon entering Briarwood Nature Preserve in Saline, Louisiana, it is immediately apparent that you're wading into a historic space of conservation and love. Briarwood Nature Preserve is the legacy of ornithologist, activist, writer, painter, teacher, and advocate Caroline Dormon. The pace slowed as I left the highway and passed the historic marker dedicated to Caroline Dormon. About halfway through the winding entrance road, I stopped and stood in this new space, full of cascading shades of green, enveloped by waves of insect chatter and birdsong. Further still, I was greeted by the Briarwood Sign, which seemed as though it had always been there, and it was then I wondered how many others had made this trip, what their expectations were upon arrival, and how the space might have changed them as the left. Would I have that type of experience?
At their home within the preserve, Bayli and her husband Travis greeted us with gentle hospitality and warmth that carried us deep into a lovely and informative conversation. I found the space and the visit invigorating while at the same time comforting. Like light through an emerald canopy, Bayli shared the path to becoming Briarwood's Curator, what the work entails, the rich history of Briarwood Nature Preserve, and the almost unbelievable accomplishments of Caroline Dormon, whose life and efforts have meant so much to so many, even if her name might seem somewhat obscure to most.
After our conversation, Bayli and Travis shared even more of their time. They offered a tour of many important spaces on the protected acreage, such as "Grand Pappy," the nearly 500-year-old Long Leaf Pine favored by Dormon, the statue of Caroline located at the site of her childhood home, as well as a quiet and genuinely touching visit to Caroline Dormon's cabin, the space where she lived, wrote, and painted. My day in this green cloud, Briarwood Nature Preservice, was an absolute joy, and Bayli was an informative, thoughtful, and wonderful host.
There is iron in Caroline Dormon's legacy, and I do not doubt that the right people are in place to preserve and present that legacy to the next generation of travelers.
So, through my conversation with Bayli Brossette, I invite you to Briarwood Nature Preserve, where the sounds of combustion engines are quelled by lush acres of whispering pines and wildflowers.
Learn more about Caroline Dormon & Briarwood Nature Preserve » www.BriarwoodNP.org
Follow Briarwood NP on Social Media » www.facebook.com/briarwoodnp
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Aug 19, 2024
Aug 19, 2024
56 min
Ep. 128 - The Printing Press - Ft. Candice Alexander of Candice Alexander Art Studio in Lake Charles, Louisiana - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
One of the great benefits of hosting this podcast has been the crossover from witnessing a human life from the sidelines into an intimate and direct personal encounter with them that reveals so much more than an outside view can provide.
Nearly 20 years ago, at a local outdoor music event, I watched from the sidelines as a young artist reproduced her creations using an antique, portable printing press. As she worked, I was both fascinated and impressed by the artwork she had hanging from lines stretched across her canvas-covered booth.
Time passed along, and I started seeing more of this artist's works in the community. Her name—Candice Alexander—became synonymous with a highly-prized creative series of fleur de leis paintings and prints that could be seen adorning the offices and facilities across the region. While our paths rarely crossed, Candice and I occasionally had the fluke intersection on projects for local events and entities.
In this episode, I had the opportunity to visit with Candice Alexander at her art studio in downtown Lake Charles, Louisiana, where I was immersed in a kaleidoscopic presentation of her works.
When entering Candice's studio, it would be easy to assume that one is looking at the works of multiple artists—that assumption would be wrong. In reality, you'll experience the years-long passion of an artist who experiments with a myriad of mediums, technologies, tools, and styles. Candice unabashedly embraces ancient and renaissance techniques while pairing them with modern creative resources, and emerging technologies, often creating something new and exciting for her clients, and fulfilling her creative curiosities.
There's a beginning to Candice's journey to her diversely populated art studio. Like many successful artists, she made choices early on to get busy, get creative, and get to selling her creations using the tools she had available. From those summer days in her booth, producing works with her used baby printing press, to her recent endeavors in laser engraving and mold making, I learned that her successes have been hard-won.
So, I invite you to enjoy my conversation with Candice Alexander, learn more about her artistic journey, and then perhaps consider your beginnings and the particular collection of circumstances, sacrifices, insights, and decisions that have led to your present moment.
Learn more about Alexander Art Studio » www.CandiceAlexander.com
Follow Candice Alexander on Social Media » www.facebook.com/candicealexanderartstudio
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Aug 5, 2024
Aug 5, 2024
1 hr 4 min
Ep. 127 - The Cup Overfloweth - Ft. Hunter Forman and Aaron Quinn of Village Coffee in Sulphur, Louisiana - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
In this episode, I visited with Village Coffee manager Hunter Forman and co-owner Aaron Quinn to learn more about the importance of their unique venue, the "name your price" items on the Village Coffee menu, and how dishing out dignity to all of the people of Sulphur, Louisiana is roasted into every bean, and baked into every bite.
Sulphur is my hometown, and it's been my observation that we're as guilty of pride and prejudice as any other city in the United States. Like many, we have underserved citizens in specific regions who require the same attention, resources, and compassion as anyone else.
From day one, Village Coffee has provided a compassionate space with an attitude of grace, where the overlooked or down-on-their-luck can enjoy a hot gourmet roast or meal alongside their more affluent neighbors. Hunter and Aaron are clear that they can't serve the cup of gladness without help from the regular customers and patrons of Village Coffee, who regularly pay it forward for their fellow citizens.
No matter which side of the tracks you travel in from, within the historic walls of Village Coffee, you can eat, drink, be well, and be seen.
So, I invite you to sit down with your own hot cup of coffee and let my conversation with Hunter and Aaron warm your heart. Now, let's queue the music and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about Village Coffee » www.villagecoffee.co/
Follow Village Coffee on Social Media » www.facebook.com/thevillagecoffeehousesulphur // www.instagram.com/villagecoffeesulphur
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Jul 22, 2024
Jul 22, 2024
1 hr 6 min
Ep. 126 - The City And The Seasons - Ft. Jill Leo, Director of the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association and Natchitoches Main Street - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
In this episode, I had the opportunity to visit with one the most industrious and caring people I know, Jill Leo, Director of the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association & Natchitoches Main Street. Jill would be the first to accept the compliment gracefully and quickly share the wealth of credit with others who work tirelessly to help her make the Natchitoches, Louisiana, events successful.
Jill is a woman of many hats, and on any given day, she's likely to wear a different one, depending on the hour. While her attention is undoubtedly drawn in various directions, she successfully directs her focus and resources and does what needs to be done with an attitude of gladness.
In her role with Natchitoches Main Street, she manages Beau Jardien at the Roque House Gardens, a serene outdoor event venue that seamlessly pairs with the historic Natchitoches riverfront.
With the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association, Jill oversees the planning and execution of one of Louisiana's oldest, most iconic holiday events—the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights, as well as other activities and events that allure travelers to the area and stimulate historic district businesses.
Whether she wears the praise or humbly hands it off to someone else, this is what I know: Jill Leo gets things done for her city season after season, and then she does a little more.
So, I invite you to meet the lady behind the lights, my good friend and colleague Jill Leo.
Now, let's queue the music and press play on a little good news.
Learn more about the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights » www.NatchitochesChristmas.com
Learn more about the Natchitoches Historic District » www.natchitochesla.gov
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Jul 8, 2024
Jul 8, 2024
1 hr 15 min
Ep. 125 - The Quieter Stories - Ft. Cane River National Heritage Area - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Have you ever been to a place that felt alive, as though it were not only a destination defined by its offerings and attractions but rather an actual living, breathing character in the stories of many lives across generations? Nearly 30 years ago, I visited a place like this in central Louisiana, and I've been returning year after year to spend time with this special location. Throughout the years, it has welcomed me as it has many others, and integral pivots in my life story have taken place in this region's arms, allowing me to laugh, learn, wonder, search, love, grieve, and heal. The Cane River region and the historic city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, have been good friends to me, and I've had the honor of working with some of its brightest children and patrons.
In this episode, I had the pleasure of visiting with one of the Cane River region's most resourceful and passionate stewards, Rebecca Blankenbaker, President & CEO of Cane River National Heritage Area. Our paths crossed by chance years ago on a partnership project for the No Man's Land region, an even larger geographic area along Louisiana's western border with a wild and textured tale of its own. It was clear to me at that time that Rebecca was a knowledgeable and effective leader with the resources and know-how to preserve the historic places that wind along the Cane River and help capture and present the colorful—yet often quiet—stories of the people who have struggled, settled and prospered along its banks.
Over the past 15 years, with each visit to Natchitoches, I have noticed projects that have brought increased education, important historic preservation, and a high level of regional and local beautification. These enhancements have changed the face of this charming city and region—my old friend—while retaining all of the familiar, warm features that have called so many back to the Cane River area over and again.
I feel very lucky to have encountered Rebecca Blankenbaker and her team at Cane River National Heritage Area. I am humbled to have now had an opportunity to touch on projects that I will help keep Natchitoches, Louisiana, a highly sought-after destination for wanderers. It's clear that through Cane River National Heritage Area's partnerships and projects, the Natchitoches area will continue to be of interest to seekers, a delight to travelers, and a place to explore, rest, renew, contemplate the past and consider the road ahead.
So, I invite you to meet my dear friend and colleague Rebecca Blankenbaker and learn about her good works.
Learn about Cane River National Heritage Area » www.CaneRiverNHA.org
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Jun 23, 2024
Jun 23, 2024
1 hr 3 min
Ep. 124 - The Bridges That Connect Us - Ft. CSE Federal Credit Union - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
What happens when a brand sets service to the community as their moral north star? In the case of CSE Federal Credit Union, you get a brand with 80 years of local involvement that sets a standard of excellence I find difficult to fully quantify.
I've had the pleasure of working with the CSE team on a variety of projects over the last 20 years, and while very real personal friendships have formed through the course of our professional history, I've never had the chance to sit down with their team in an intimate way and touch the beating heart of the CSE family.
In this episode, I got that opportunity through visiting with CSE President & CEO Matt Koch, Chief Marketing Officer Colleen Desselle, and retired past CEO Eddie Oakley to discuss CSE's 80-year history in Southwest Louisiana, their commitment to serving CSE's members and their efforts to bring their unique passion for people to other markets.
Our world is very busy, and would be very easy to box any business into your peripherals, but I encourage you to bring your focus in on what Matt, Colleen, and Eddie have to share regarding CSE's unique credit union culture. I think you will find, as I did, that in their 80-year history, CSE has not only developed deep roots, but also ever widening branches that embrace many of the projects that enhance our quality of life.
So, I invite you to sit with me and get to know CSE. Now, let's queue the music and press play on a little good news.
Learn about CSE Federal Credit Union » www.CSEFCU.org
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Jun 15, 2024
Jun 15, 2024
1 hr 10 sec
Ep. 123 - The Right Chemistry - Ft. George Swift - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
For over 20 years, George Swift, the CEO & President of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has been using his unique chemistry of professional skills and personal strengths in service to the Southwest Louisiana region. Recently, George announced that he was stepping down from this critical leadership role with the Alliance. Soon, he'll be stepping up to the next chapter in his personal and professional life, and whoever is selected for the position will be standing on a foundation George Swift helped build.
After picking up bits and pieces of stories over the years, I finally had the honor to sit down and have George share the steps on his path from Selma, Alabama to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
George Swift means a lot to me personally and professionally. He's been honest and direct, while always being respectful and kind—that's a kind of strength that I appreciate.
I invite you to meet a man that has a passion for professional betterment, personal growth, enduring change, and the ability of human hearts to rise up from poverty and adversity in an endeavor to make the world a better place, starting right here at home.
Now, press play on a little good news.
Learn about George Swift & the SWLA Alliance » www.AllianceSWLA.org
Learn more about Parker Brand Creative Services » www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Listen to more Find the Good News episodes » www.FindtheGood.News
Dec 9, 2021
Dec 9, 2021
1 hr 4 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 122, “The Shifters,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Steve Taylor, author of "Extraordinary Awakenings: When Trauma Leads to Transformation" published by New World Library.
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"Just like a blind man that has discovered a jewel in a heap of rubbish, likewise, by some coincidence, an awakening mind has been born within me." With this simple, powerful turn of phrase, the Indian mystic Shantideva laid claim on my heart and framed my personal awakening experience over 25 years ago.
It was a profound moment of illumination in the midst of deep personal pain and set in motion years of curious seeking, discovery, experience, and practice that has offered shelter over my life to this very day. Perhaps this was the reason I so enjoyed the new book by Steve Taylor, "Extraordinary Awakenings: When Trauma Leads to Transformation," and why I was so eager to have him visit me on "Find the Good News."
Steve's new book is a collection of potent awakening stories spanning across a wide spectrum of traumatic human experiences such as imprisonment, war, addiction, depression, tragedy, and grief. He presents the common markers exhibited by the awakened—"shifters"—on the other side of a trauma experience.
No stranger to these uncommon causes of awakening, Steve offers a view of minds-and-hearts dawning in plain view, in the shadowy-yet-lovely circumstances of human existence, and in the beautiful, bumpy, ordinary enlightened beings blooming around us in this "heap of rubbish."
Now, I invite you to move beyond fundamentalism, past religious framing, and open yourself to the idea of your own potential for extraordinary awakening, then tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVE TAYLOR — https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/about-steve-taylor/
BUY A COPY OF "EXTRAORDINARY AWAKENINGS" — https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/books/extraordinary-awakenings/
SEE MORE BOOKS FROM NEW WORLD LIBRARY — https://www.newworldlibrary.com/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Nov 4, 2021
Nov 4, 2021
1 hr 21 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 121, “The Raw Honey,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Kori Hahn, author of "Rituals of the Soul: Using the 8 Principles of Yoga to Create a Modern & Meaningful Life" published by New World Library.
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Have you ever had to reinvent yourself, to start again? Did you find that there was a process of letting go, of unlearning, as you started to embrace the changes that came with your rebirth?
Sometimes, it's difficult to use the pieces of our existing life as the compost for new growth, and it can often seem haphazard and clumsy, but with a fair amount of right effort and right attention, plus some helpful advice and guidance along the way, it is possible to build something new, whole, and more familiar and comfortable than we'd likely imagined possible.
In the episode of Find the Good News, I visit with Kori Hahn, author of the new book "Rituals of the Soul: Using the 8 Principles of Yoga to Create a Modern & Meaningful Life," published by New World Library.
In her book and through our conversation, Kori shares the textured and rich accounts of her own journey while imparting important Yogic wisdom in a digestible and engaging format I'd not yet experienced.
What I found in Kori was someone who has searched for meaning and found it—even in the face of great personal loss—reborn with a passionate personal calling to help others find, cultivate, and embrace the sacred rituals evident in their own lives. Where they do not seem to exist, she shows how to create them, then lovingly encourages us to do so.
Now, take a look at your life just as it, with all its twists and bends, all of its ordinary colors and tones, and prepare to discover anew the raw and extraordinary sacred hiding in plain sight, then tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT KORI HAHN — https://santoshasociety.com/kori-hahn/
BUY A COPY OF "RITUALS OF THE SOUL" — https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781608687527
SEE MORE BOOKS FROM NEW WORLD LIBRARY — https://www.newworldlibrary.com/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Oct 7, 2021
Oct 7, 2021
59 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 120, “The Permission Slip,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Regina Louise, author of Permission Granted: Kick-Ass Strategies to Bootstrap Your Way to Unconditional Self-Love published by New World Library.
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Is there something in your life that you feel you should have done, but you just couldn't find it in yourself to get started? Maybe you had an internal and unspoken checklist of reasons that you believed were valid enough to keep your personal passions and dreams in check. You might have thought that you weren't old enough, young enough, wealthy enough, educated enough, attractive enough, supported enough, nurtured enough,... normal enough (whatever that means).
I can absolutely recall the times that my inner critic has clubbed me into submission, even as I sit down to share these words with you. What would happen if you and I stopped casting internal stones and stopped believing the negative stories we tell ourselves, and instead started a plan of self-encouragement that pushed us through the gravel of self-doubt?
In this episode, I visit with Regina Louise, author of the new book "Permission Granted: Kick-Ass Strategies to Bootstrap Your Way to Unconditional Self-Love."
Regina is an energetic light with an attractive vibe that makes you want to latch on to her message. It would be easy to say that she's overcome a lot in her life to get to this plateau where she can help others rise and thrive, but that simply doesn't do her story justice. She instead encourages us to wrap our arms around all the broken and damaged bits that weigh people down (that nasty checklist I mentioned earlier) and instead learn to grow through what we go through.
In a world obsessed with celebrities, Regina uses her very real (and sometimes painful) story to advocate for the voiceless without the clout and fame that so many celebrities enjoy and squander.
She wasn't groomed for success. Instead, Regina found a kind of truth in the bumpiness of her own edges. This allowed her to lay down false images of perfection that so many in our society cling to. In allowing her authentic self to blossom, unplugged from the dream of the mainstream, she now leans into and develops her natural gifts to help others realize the same self-love and personal freedom.
Now, I encourage you to think about those fears and jeers you lay upon yourself, all those unnecessary fictions and frictions you've shackled yourself to, and find out what would happen if you loved yourself just as you are, then tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT REGINA LOUISE — https://www.iamreginalouise.com/
BUY A COPY OF "PERMISSION GRANTED" — https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Granted-Strategies-Bootstrap-Unconditional/dp/1608687260/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
SEE MORE BOOKS FROM NEW WORLD LIBRARY — https://www.newworldlibrary.com/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Sep 21, 2021
Sep 21, 2021
1 hr 41 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 119, “The Trembling Trees,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Jonathon Stalls, artist, writer, activist, and founder of Intrinsic Paths.
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Have you ever had a transformative personal experience so profound, so mysterious, that escaped your ability to frame it with words? If you've listened to this program for any length of time then you likely know that I have had such an experience, a moment in this lifetime that seemed to change every other day after it or at least my perception of those moments.
Many of my guests have intimately shared their experiences, and I am fascinated how across language barriers, geography, and varied circumstantial occurrences, so many walk through the transformative door and end up in similar places, motivated and invigorated to use their lives in the service of goodness, justice, mercy, and love.
In this episode, I visit with a being who has shown up in the world with a genuineness that I deeply appreciate. My guest, Jonathon Stalls, is the founder of Intrinsic Paths, and his feet have carried him on a mission to inspire the people he encounters.
Jonathon encourages us to embrace an unhurried, meditative way of being that has the potential to heal on a very deep and personal level, in turn offering the tools required to repair the desperate fissures in this world we all share.
He did not come to this place without going through the Bardo of personal pain, which I feel largely influenced his visceral understanding of the aching his human brothers and sisters experience. By acknowledging this deep creaking in the world, he is able to fully embrace the joyous cacophony that we so often disregard in the hustle to "be someone."
This is clear in Jonathon's deep love and connection to the unabashedly beautiful and simple things to be found in nature, which take on new and profound visual meaning through his artwork and nature-craft.
Through his Pedestrian Dignity signal, he adopts a role as an advocate for our fellow beings that find themselves at the mercy of congested, poorly planned roadways and cities designed primarily for those of us with vehicles, cities, and communities that largely forget those that use their feet to carry them to school and work.
It is my reflection that Jonathon Stalls, through his life and work, is holding up a living mirror to the world. What we find in him is a shimmering beauty firmly attached to a murky pain. In that, I find a type of truth that escapes words or full understanding, but in this conversation, Jonathon and I try to put prose to this mystery.
Now, for just a little while, allow yourself to show up just as you are, with all your hopes and happiness, your failures and fears. Make a point to look right into the lovely mess, then tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT JONATHAN STALLS — https://www.intrinsicpaths.com/
SUPPORT JONATHAN'S WORD — https://www.patreon.com/intrinsicpaths
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Aug 31, 2021
Aug 31, 2021
1 hr 2 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 118, “The Honored Struggle,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Wendy De Rosa, author of "Becoming An Empowered Empath: How To Clear Energy, Set Boundaries, & Embody Your Intuition" by New World Library.
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Many longtime Find the Good News listeners would likely recall the number of times that I've brought the subject of empathy into these conversations in a very serious way. There have been times over the past two years where I've felt that I'd exhausted the topic, or rather exhausted myself in an attempt to express what being an empath has been like for me. As with most things, I've been exploring the boundary of my own experiences in an attempt to learn through the stories and experiences of others.
Being an empath has offered the gift of deep listening and understanding on a level akin to actually feeling what others themselves have experienced. This is a great blessing to others when one is attempting to step into the role of consoler and healer, but it can also feel like a deep ache or heaviness when the wings of an empathetic heart are stretched and burdened beyond their capacity to carry the hurt of others.
I, like many who go through life with naturally empathetic hearts, have likely felt a great moaning rise over the past decade, or longer. With so much pain and suffering, so much discord, dishevelment, and division, it is often hard to discern one's own feelings from the soup of signals we have moved through.
In this conversation with Wendy De Rosa, author of the new book "Becoming An Empowered Empath: How To Clear Energy, Set Boundaries & Embody Your Intuition," I for the very first time, have a guest that clearly and openly speaks about the reality of being an empath.
Wendy offers helpful perspectives and strong guidance on how to enhance day-to-day living through empathetic gifts, while not being consumed by the onslaught of feelings that are often not our own. Through her school of Intuitive Studies, Wendy assists students on their path of self-discovery through guided meditation, breathwork, and energy clearing.
Wendy offers insights that bring comfort and healing to the soul. For me, it was an opportunity to open my empathetic heart in a space of safety with an individual that didn't require an explanation of who I am or who I behave. Wendy offered the gift that I so often wish I could give, the gift of a listening ear, an understanding mind, and a loving heart.
Now, it's time to enter a space of safety and freedom, freedom to lay your burdens down for a short time, to let go of anything that's causing you grief, especially the pains that most can't see. Take a break from the entanglements of arrangements, habits, and identity, and allow yourself to just feel what you feel. Be with it, and know that it's okay. Then, dear listener, to tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT WENDY DE ROSA — https://schoolofintuitivestudies.com/
BUY "BECOMING AN EMPOWERED EMPATH" — https://bookshop.org/books/becoming-an-empowered-empath-how-to-clear-energy-set-boundaries-embody-your-intuition/9781608687190
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Aug 12, 2021
Aug 12, 2021
1 hr 31 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 117, “The Weeping Sunset,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Rev. Dr. Kenneth Patrick, author of "Journeying to the End of Life: Discovering the Ancient Hospice Way of Companioning the Dying."
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Often, it's in revisiting a conversation during editing that its value truly sinks in. As you may know, it could be several weeks, or even months, after I've had a visit with a guest before their episode is published. On many occasions, going back to listen to the conversation reveals little details I missed, or perhaps didn't key in on, while in the natural flow with a guest. Or, as I had happened with this particular episode, the world around me changes in ways that affect my interior landscape, giving new meaning to my guests' words. When considered in this light, editing becomes less a necessary task and more of a gift.
My guest in this episode, Reverend Doctor Kenneth Patrick, an ordained Methodist Minister, gave me the great gift of his time, and it has acted as a prescription for what ails me as we face, yet again, another surge of the Covid 19 virus in the United States of America.
The truth is, I've been circling the drain and have felt myself losing hope in my fellow beings' capacity to do the right thing, resolved to simply bear witness and weep privately for all the dismay and despair on full display. How am I to produce a show about finding the good when I clearly hold a tarnished view of those I would call human brothers and sisters? I need these episodes as much as anyone, I need to hear these good people doing good works in the world, people like Kenneth Patrick, who have dedicated their lives to the service of others, even though they too bear witness to the same calamities as I.
Kenneth is the author of the book "Journeying to the End of Life," and in it he presents what he calls the "Ancient Hospice Way" of being a true companion and servant to the dying.
In our conversation, Kenneth reveals that at a young age he made a type of pact with himself, that he would serve where people were suffering the most. You will discover, as I did, that he has spent his whole life doing that very thing.
Kenneth advocates moving outside our comfort bubbles and into situations that require work, work that effectively changes the world in a real and tangible way so that it can truly meet and help others where they are.
As an Army Chaplain, Kenneth brought solace and comfort to soldiers. As a compassionate social activist, he has hiked the Appalachian Trail solo—that's over 2,100 miles—to raise enough money to help the RAM house, a day shelter for the homeless in Virginia, an endeavor that has helped over 5,000 people, serving over 41,000 meals.
All the experiences of his life have lead to his current passion, providing compassionate companionship and care to those facing the end of their lives, considering this to be the most vital social issue of our age. The hospice method that he presents brings patients, families, healthcare professionals, and faith communities together in unison to reduce the layers of suffering that occur during the sunset of life, outlining training and resources so human beings can die at home, with dignity, well cared for, surrounded by those they love.
Now, if you are like me, if you are feeling the burden of a world in pain, weary from too much bad news, I invite you to listen to this conversation with a man that does not deny or turn away from the reality of the difficult age we find ourselves in, a man that encourages us to lean into our weeping during this time of sunset, and in the tears find a divine love. It is an encouragement to work and to hope. I invite you, dear listener, to tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT KENNETH — https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks/article/Rev-Dr-Kenneth-Patrick-Launches-New-Marketing-Campaign-for-JOURNEYING-TO-THE-END-OF-LIFE-20141117
BUY JOURNEYING TO THE END OF LIFE — https://www.amazon.com/Journeying-End-Life-Discovering-Companioning/dp/1449054757
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Jul 29, 2021
Jul 29, 2021
2 hr 25 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 116, “The Burdensome Backpack,” A Road Trip episode featuring Mickey Shannon of Resource Management Services
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After a much-needed summer break, Find the Good News is back with a special Road Trip episode. It had been quite a while since my last road trip recording, and while I didn't have to travel far to meet my guest, it was still refreshing to be out of doors.
In this episode, I got to visit with Mickey Shannon under the great blue sky at Prien Lake Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Mickey and I share a common friendship with my high school speech teacher, and dear friend, Aleta Barnes, who, if you will recall from episode 33, has been more of a mentor than either of us realized at the time.
I trust Aleta, so when she suggested that Mickey and I make a connection, I did so without hesitation. This pre-existing bond is a direct link in the Good News chain that led to my sitting across from Mickey on such a mildly breezy day, months before the summer slog-and-bake weather moved into Southwest Louisiana.
Mickey is the CEO and President of Resource Management Services, a business that has been providing behavioral health services in Southwest Louisiana for over 25 years. Like most of us, Mickey is so much more than her official title, although after sitting with her, it is was very easy to see why she was called to service in her particular field.
Honestly, this wasn't the first time I'd sat down to visit with Mickey under the clear blue sky. Not too long ago, she invited me to the peaceful bayou that borders her property to dig Iris flowers for transplant around my small lotus pool. On that day, we sat down on the soft grass of her front lawn and had a friendly visit there as well.
Mickey is an artist, and if you seek out her works you'll find a comforting blend of local creatures and fauna, as well as a healthy dose of spiritual vision. It is clear to me that Mickey wants to improve the quality of the lives she comes in contact with, whether it be those in her close circles, or in the larger rings surrounding her community. Whatever you want to call this method of moving through life that Mickey Shannon has adopted is probably fine; she doesn't seem to concern herself too much with labels. Mickey is more intent on living as well as she can while being a blessing to others using her gifts and resources.
I'd like to believe that there are more people in this world, especially in my community, like Mickey. She's a reminder to me that even if I don't see them, they are out there among us. That gives me a strong dose of comfort and resolve to keep taking these little trips to meet with people just like her.
Now, it's time to get out of doors, get out of your head, and take a little drive with me, turn the wheel toward the good heart I found in Mickey Shannon, then press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES — https://www.resourcemgtservices.com/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Jun 25, 2021
Jun 25, 2021
1 hr 58 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 115, “The Human Story,” featuring Christy Comeaux and Katie Pennington-Bartlett of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library
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If you've been listening to Find the Good News for any length of time, I'm sure you've figured out that I, like so many, have an affinity for reading. My dad loved to read pocketbooks and comic books, and I am certain that I can draw a direct line from my love for both of those things to the yellowing pages in his collection of Doc Savage books that now sit on my bookshelf.
Reading opened up worlds, seeded my imagination, and stimulated my curiosity at a young age. For all the wonders presented by the information age, I am thankful to have been born into a world decades before laptops, tablets, and smartphones started bending our necks.
I recall loving the libraries in our community when I was a child. I would often ride my bicycle into town and make a stop there, library card in hand, looking for instructions for existing hobbies, or chance encounters with new interests.
The Calcasieu Parish Public Library in my hometown was a refuge filled with information that nurtured my young mind. Looking back, I feel grateful, and I also realize that I was likely unappreciative of this social staple.
In this episode of Find the Good News, I had the pleasure of revisiting many of these experiences in my conversation with Calcasieu Parish Public Library Information Officer, Christy Comeaux, and Calcasieu Parish Public Library Associate II with Branch Programming, Katie Pennington-Bartlett.
This conversation put me face-to-face with the level of my ignorance related to all of the offerings and services the modern Calcasieu Parish Public Library provides. Certainly, the public library is, and will always be, a resource for those with an appetite for page-turning, but under the stewardship of passionate librarians, just like Christy and Katie, these repositories of diverse knowledge have become so much more.
The library is an ecumenical hub that provides many free resources that some citizens would not have access to otherwise. As you'll learn in this conversation, our libraries are helmed by people that do much more than point citizens in the direction of their desired content; they are staffed by human beings that serve with open minds and listening hearts.
I don't know where you live, but if you have a library in your community, I hope the spirit of this conversation with Christy and Katie will move you through its doors or motivate you to seek out its online portal. There, perhaps you'll find, as have, that a library isn't just a home for good books; it is a cradle that carries on the collective stories of humanity, town to town, city to city, one librarian to one curious seeker, all across the world.
Now, ask yourself if you've got a current library card. If the answer is no, then take some time to get one. Prepare to meet your local librarian, who I am sure is eagerly waiting to assist you. Before you go, make sure you press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CALCASIEU PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY — https://calcasieulibrary.libnet.info/
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UPLOAD YOUR ART TO THE CPBL "HOPE & RESILIENCE" VIRTUAL ART SHOW — https://calcasieulibrary.libnet.info/artexhibit
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES — www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Jun 21, 2021
Jun 21, 2021
1 hr 35 min
You’re listening to Find the Good News, Episode 114, “The Foldover Worlds,” A Beacon Series conversation featuring Dream Analyst and Depth Psychologist, Tayria Ward.
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I started having potent dreams on repeat when I was a young boy, mindscapes so dense with texture and gravity that it was not unusual for me to question whether the space I found myself in upon awakening wasn't in fact the dream.
In my early twenties, these flavorful dreams—called such because I could taste them in my mouth—seemed to intensify, often bringing heavy imagery, charged with some type of misfortune.
Still, other dreams—much brighter and lighter in tone—have had an almost vision-like quality, leading my heart and mind to some type of comforting sense of hope.
I've spoken of these things on my other podcast, The Dawn Deacon. Over the years I've taken great care to hold these things close and safe, not sharing them openly. I've learned that sharing your dreams in a serious way isn't always taken very seriously, at least within most of the larger rings I've traveled. This started to change last year when I opened the door to this podcast to guests from outside my local community, and this is also how I met my friend, dream analyst, and depth psychologist, Tayria Ward.
Tayria and I were in a group related to a book I'd featured on the show. There was quite a large number of people in the group, but Tayria's additions to the conversation were always insightful.
One day she shared an image of her father, herself, and Buckminster Fuller. During my early age of exploration and discovery after an awakening experience, I'd landed in a sphere of curiosity surrounding Buckminster Fuller; his story fascinated me. The photo of Tayria with her father and Bucky breathed life into my old interest, so I reached out to her. We became fast friends through this node, and have stayed in a type of orbit since, eventually become letter-and-stamp pen pals, a form of communication that, thanks to Tayria's rich letters, I am learning to cherish all over again.
Tayria's journey is as rich and textured as my young dreams, filled with the promise that there is more connective tissue between our slumbering minds and what most call the real world. What I admire most about Tayria is her willingness to kindly walk with others along the vastness of their dreamscapes, acting as a type of dream sherpa, bringing all her experience to each space or plateau.
To me, she seems to stands on many layers at once, with an ability to perceive the overlapping slides between individuals and their personal dreams, as well as their experiences, looking for collective and synchronistic lock-ups that may hold greater meaning for everyone on earth.
While our visit is about the layered worlds of visions and dreams, it is also grounded in very real experiences that play out in our dusty, ordinary lives. As you listen to my conversations with Tayria, I feel strongly that you will sense that firm tether to this realm of the real, and that you will find a great treasure, as I have, in getting to know Tayria Ward.
Now, I invite you to find a fluid, flexible space that allows you to sink your consciousness a bit deeper than the solid footing near the shallows, allowing shifting mind-sand and heart-waves to make you question the direction gravity plays on your body, then tune your attention to this Good News Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS — https://www.findthegood.news/donate/
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LEARN MORE ABOUT TAYRIA WARD — https://tayriaward.com/
DREAM SYMPOSIUM — https://tayriaward.com/dream-symposium/
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